Rheostat.



No. 776,454. PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

W. CHRISIIENSEN.v

RHBOSTAT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1903.

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W. CHRISTENSBN.

RHBOSTAT.

APPLIOATIOI FILED A UG. 24,

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y UNITED STATES Patented November 29, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

RHEOSTAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 776,454, dated November 29, 1904. Application filed August 24, 1903. Serial No. 170,576. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CI-IEIsTENsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rheostats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rheostats or controllers; and it has for its object to provide a structure in which simplicity and durabilityT of construction are combined with ease and eiiiciency of operation.

The invention consists in the novel construetion and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved rheostat,including in diagram an electric circuit connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section as on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section as on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view of several of the resistance-coils as detached from the 'rheostat 1 designates a hollow core or section of pipe, and 4 a series of resistance-coils insulated therefrom and arranged thereon at intervals apart. In the present instance the coils 4 are formed of a continuous tape of resistance material, and the eonvolutions of the respective coilsare separated from each other and from the core 1 by a tape of insulating material 5 wound into the coils with the tape of resistance material.

The method of winding the coils 4 upon the central core 1 is as follows: Starting at one end of the series, the tape is wound around the core 1 with the interposed insulating-tape 5 until a suiiicient thickness has been wound to produce the first resistance-coil 4. The resistance-tape is then folded parallel tothe core 1, and a slight distance from the first coil the resistance-tape is again folded at right angles to the core 1 and again wound around the core 1 with the interposed insulating-tape 5 until a sufficient thickness has been wound to produce the second resistance-coil 4, and soon. The tape is folded, and each coil 4 is wound upon the core 1 until the entire series is produced. After the resistance-coils 4 have been wound upon the core 1, as just described, each` coil 4 is secured in place by a contact-clip 6, clamped upon the outside convolution of its coil 4. This contact-clip 6 in its preferred form comprises a split ring 7, provided with two outwardly-projecting contact-blades 8 and drawn together by the action of a suitable bolt 9 to clamp its coil 4 in place. The ring 7 is also provided with a projection 10, into' which is screwed a binding-post 11, by means of which the clip may be connected to an electric circuit. The uppermost clip 6 (shown in Fig. 1) is mounted on an insulating-collar 12 on the core 1, is connected directly to the end of the resistance-tape, and is not provided with a resistance-coil 4, and the lowermost clip 6 (shown in Fig. 1) is mounted on an insulating-collar 20 on the core 1, is not provided with a resistance-coil 4, and is not connected to the resistance-tape.

Secured to the core 1, near one end of the series of resistance-coils 4, is a collar 13, provided with a projecting arnT 14, to the outer en`d of which is pivoted one end of a connecting-arm 15, arranged in line with the space between the blades. This connecting-arm 15 extends along the seriesy of contact-clips 6 and is movable successively into and from engagement therewithfthat is to say, as the arm is moved inwardly toward the core 1 said arm will pass successively between and into engagement with the pairs of blades 8 of the clips 6, engaged with the series of resistanceeoils, and as the arm 15 is moved outwardly away from the core 1 said arm will be moved .successively from between and into engagement with the said pairs of blades 8. The free end of the connecting-arm 15 extends freely through a suitable guiding-arm 16, projecting from a collar 17, secured to the core 1, and the free end of the arm 15 is provided with a handle 18, by means of which it may be operated. The handle 18 maybe insulated from the arm 15 in any suitable manner.

Vhen the above-described rheostat is arranged in an electric circuit-such, for eX- ample, as is illustrated in Fig. 1 and designated 19-*the operation is as follows: When the connecting-arm 15 occupies its innermost position, the electric current will flow through said arm and the two contact-clips 6 at the IOO respective ends of the series oi' resistanceeoils 4 and be unaffected by the rheostat. When the arm 15 is moved outwardly to disengage it from the blades 8 of the iirst contact-clip 6 at the top of the series, the current will iiow through the li rst resistance-coil 4, thence through the second clip and arm 15, and out through the lowermost contact-clip 6. I/Vhen the arm 15 is moved outwardly to disengage it from the blades 8 of the second clip 6, the current will then iow through the two coils at the top oi' the series and out through the third clip 6, the arm 15, and the lowermost clip 6, and so on. As the arm 15 is moved outwardly the resistance-coils 4 will be successively cut into the circuit, and when the arm 15 passes from engagement with the second clip 6 above the collar 13, or the last clip engaged with the resistance-tape, the electric circuit will be broken. Thus it will be seen that by moving the arm 15 in and out any number of the resistance-coils 4 may be cut into or cut out of the circuit as desired, and by moving the arm 15 to its outermost position the circuit may be broken.

One of the principal features of my invention is the hollow central core 1, common to all the resistance-coils. By reason of this feature the entire series of resistance-coils 4 may be kept cool by a current of air or water passing through the core 1. When water is employed and heated by passing through the rheostat, the hot water may be utilized for various purposes, or it may be caused to low through a coil of pipe and used for heating` purposes.

I claim- 1. In a rheostat, or controller, a central core, a resistance arranged upon said core and comprising a single continuous strip spirally wound to form a series of coils, the portions or' the strip between the coils being folded to provide intermediate connections between the coils, and means for cutting said coils into and out or' an electric circuit.

2. In a rheostat, or controller, a central core, a series of resistance-coils mounted thereon and insulated therefrom, contact-clips surrounding said coils and holding the latter upon the core, and a movable contact member adapted to be moved successively into or out of engagement with said contact-clips, substantially as described.

3. In a rheostat, or controller, a series oi' resistance-coils, contact-clips surrounding said coils and holding the latter upon the core, and a pivoted contact-arm adapted to be moved successively into or out of engagement with said contact-clips, said arm being so arranged as to maintain its engagement with each successive contact-clip until the entire series ot' clips have been engaged therewith, substantially as described.

4. In a rheostat,or controller, a central core, a series of resistance-coils mounted thereon,

tain its engagement with each successive contact-clip until the entire series ot' clips have been engaged therewith, substantially as described.

5. In a rheostat, or controller, a central core, a series of resistance-coils mounted thereon, contact-clips surrounding said coils and holding the latter upon the core, and a contactarm pivotally connected to said core and adapted to be moved successively into or out of engagement with said contact-clips, substantially as described.

6. In a rheostat,or controller, a central core, a resistance-coil mounted thereon, a contactclip surrounding said coil and provided with contact-blades said clips holding the coils upon the core, and a movable contact member adapted to be moved into and out ot' engagement with said blades, substantially as described.

7. In a rheostat,or controller, acentral core, a resistance-coil mounted thereon, a split ring surrounding said coil, means for drawing said ring together to clamp the coil, contact-blades projecting from said ring, and a movable contact member adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with said blades, substantially as described.

8. In a rheostat,or controller, a central core, a resistance arranged upon said core and comprising a single continuous strip spirally wound to form a series of coils, the portion ot' the strip between the coils being` folded to provide intermediate connections between the coils, contact-clips surrounding said coils and holding' the latter upon the core, said clips having contact-blades, and a movable contact member adapted to be moved into and out oi engagement with the blades ot' said clips.

9. In a rheostat,or controller, a central core, a resistance arranged upon said core and comprising a single continuous strip spirally wound to form a series ot' coils, the portion of the strip between the coils being folded to provide intermediate connections between the coils, split rings surrounding said coils and holding the latter upon the core, said rings having contact-blades arranged in alinement with each other, and amovable contact member adapted to be moved into and out or' engagement with the blades or' said clips.

10. In a rheostat, or controller, a central core, a resistance arranged upon said core and comprising a single continuous strip spirally wound to form a series otl coils, the portion otl the strip between the coils being folded to provide intermediate connections between the coils, split rings surrounding said coils and holding the latter upon the core, said rings having contact-blades arranged in alinement with each other, and a contact member pivoted adjacent to said blades and adapted to be IOO lIO

moved into and out of engagement therewith for sueeessivelyeutting in and out the respeotive coils.

11. In a rheostat, or controller, a central Core, a resistance arranged upon said eore and comprising a single continuous strip spirally Wound to form a series of coils, the portion of the strip between the eoils being folded to provide intermediate connections between the coils, split rings surrounding said eoils and holding the latter upon the eore, said rings having contact-blades arranged in alinement with each other, a movable Contact member adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the blades of said clips, and means for guiding said Contact member in its movement.

l2. In a rheostat, or Controller, a eentral eore, a resistance arranged upon said eore and comprising a single continuous strip spirally wound to form a series of coils, the portion of the strip between the coils being folded to provide intermediate Connections between the coils, split rings surrounding said coils and holding the latter upon the Core, saidrings having contact-blades arranged in alinement with each other, a movable Contact member adapted to be moved into and out of engagement With the blades of said Clips, anda guiding-arm through which the Contact member projects, whereby the latter is guided in its movements.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM CHRISTENSEN. Witnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, RALPH H. GAMBLE. 

